Fourths to l



sNo Model.) G OLLIVER RAILROAD NUT LOCK.

Bla/184,755. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

GASTON OLLIVER, OF V`COLEMANS FALLS, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FOURTHS TO L. U. MAYO, OF SAME PLACE.

RAILROAD NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,755, datedOctober 18, 1892.

Application iiled May 3l, 1892. Serial No. 43 5,013. (No model.)

T0 all whom/zit may concern;

Be it known thatI, GASTON OLLIVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colemans Falls, in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad Nut-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for automatically locking the nuts of railroad rail joints withontinjury to the threads of either the bolts or nut-s.

The 'invention consists in the combination, with the abutting ends of railroad-rails and connecting {ish-bars, of a spring device for engaging and securely holding the bolt-nuts in tightened positions and also permitting the removal of said nuts, as occasion may r'equire.

The invention is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of the abutting ends of two rails with connecting iishbars, bolts, nuts, and locking device complete. Fig. 2 is a perspective View from the inner side of the fish-bar intended for the nut side of the joint. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spring-locking device detached, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the innery side of one of the bolt-nuts.

Referring to the drawings, the letters A B designate the railroad-rails, O D the sh-bars, e one of the bolts, and f one of the bolt-nuts. The fish-bar D, which is intended for use at the nut side of the rail-joint, is grooved at the adjacent sides of each outer pair of bolt-holes, as shown at h 71, h h", and the inner ends of said grooves'are connected by longitudinal channels t' c" to receive the spring-bars L L. The spring-bars L L are each provided with outwardly-projecting notched ends Z, adapted to operate in the grooved sides of the boltnuts and to engage the radiating angular teeth fm, formed on the inner surface of the boltnuts, and thus prevent the backward turning of the said nuts, except when the notched ends of the spring-bar are depressed, as hereinafter described. If desired, the spring-bars L L can be secured to the {ish-bar D by means of pins or rivets, as shown at n n.

The fish-bar D is provided near the ends of the channels t' t" with perforations 0 o 0*0" for the passage of pins, as hereinafter described, through the instrumentality of which the notched ends or catches of the spring-bars L L are operated, so as to release their hold on the angular teeth of the bolt-nuts, and thereby permit the latter to be loosened or removed at will.

The pins above referred to for insertion in the perforations o o o 0 either form a part of the spring-bars L L', as shown at p p', being of sufcient length to project outside of the face of the iish-bar D, or be made part of a punch or other tool for insertion from the outer side of said fish-bar, so as to depress the ends of the spring-bars, as desired.

The'spring-bars are preferably madethicker at their centers and are somewhat elliptical in form to insure the operating of their ends against the bolt-nuts and engaging the radial grooves thereof, as desired.

As a modification of the device hereinbefore described, but one spring-bar maybe employed, the grooves and channel for the reception of the same being made between the two central or inner bolt-holes of the tish-barD. In such case, however, the grooves at the side of the bolt-holes should be made somewhat deeper` to allow for the constant change in space between the ends of the rails occasioned by the expansion and contraction of said rails.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a railroad nut-lock, a fish-bar having the adjacent sides of two of its bolt-holes grooved and the inner ends of said grooves connected by a horizontal channel provided with outward apertures, as described,in combination with a spring-bar having outwardlyprojecting ends to [it the channel and grooves of the {ish-bar and the connecting-bolts with radially-grooved nuts, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a railroad nut-lock, a spring-bar hav'- ing outwardly-projecting ends and pins, as described, with the rails and fish-bars, one of the latter channeled, grooved, and perforated, as specified, to receive the aforesaid spring- IOO nuts grooved, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

hl GASTON Xs oLLIvER.

, mark Witnesses:

ALFRED B. PERCY, J. D. SULLIVAN. 

